for anyone who works in a place that offers a shift differential for second and third shifts?

Question

I work in a hospital that is, of course, open 24 hours a day and has three shifts. I work in the kitchen (11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.) and I get an extra 2 dollars an hour after 3 p.m. The work slows down quite a bit in the afternoon and the morning crew sometimes sees me sitting around with nothing to do. Then after a couple of hours we get into the evening meal and it gets busy again. Also during this time I have to do some heavier stuff, like mop the floor. Some days I have to de-lime the dish machine, and once a month I have to clean out the ice machine, which is enough ice to fill 3 huge deep sinks. The morning crew can't understand why we get the shift differential when they think our jobs are so easy. It's been mentioned to them that THEY can work the second shift every once in a while and get the extra 2 bucks too and they act like that's out of the question. So I guess this is my question-- if they are unwilling to do the work we do on our shift, and work the hours we do,

Do they have a right to complain when we get a little bit more money?

Answer 1

The shift differential is not there because of the amount of labor you, but rather for the time of day that you perform. Later shifts get more per hour than earlier shifts. I worked on a production line a while back. The work never changed regardless of the time of day, but there was a shift differential so I took graveyard to get the most that I could. The shift differential was part of the union contract.

Answer 2

If they are not willing to work 2nd or 3rd shift then they do not have the right to complain about how much extra money you make if you do. The whole point of paying extra for working evenings and nights is because no one wants to work those shifts. Hospitals are tough to work in because they never close. My wife has worked 2nd shift at the hospital for 2 years, she only gets ever other weekend off and rarely gets a holiday off. I work days and don't get to see her that much. If she switched to a day shift position at the hospital we wouldn't be able to make ends meet, with the loss of the differential. Shift differential at a hospital is pretty good. I work at a factory and had worked 2nd shift for 8 years. Shift differential at a factory only amounts to 25cent/hr.

Answer 3

I think it's in people's nature to complain, but no, they shouldn't. People are paid extra to work odd hours because most people don't want to; it's hard to work 11pm - 7am and sleep during the day, when most everyone else is up and running around and getting stuff done. Shift differential is fair, absolutely. If people want to make the extra money, let them opt for the weirder hours. Ignore those fools !

Answer 4

I know the feeling. I work in a hospital too IT dept. I've worked shift work for very nearly my entire working life. What 'day shift' doesn't understand, is all that time they get to be at home with their family and friends in the evenings and nights.... we don't get. It hardly matters what kind of work we do vs. what work they do. I look at the shift differential as paying me to... well, effectively not have a life. I work 6p to 6:30a. I'd gladly swap shifts with them for a week... or a month. We do more work than they do. We have made the suggestion that we all swap shifts just to get the all around experience. They threatened to quit. They shut their pie holes real fast about the differential.

Answer 5

Is there any chance that on that one day that you need that window of sleep he could take the dogs to a (don't laugh!) "babysitter"? Because that's your only real problem, right? If the dogs were with someone else for a little while, then he could come and go as he pleased. I'm assuming that you've tried the eye masks and ear plugs. Can you sleep with the noise of the TV or radio on? That might help tune out your dogs' barking as well. And I would NEVER suggest getting rid of them! :-) If none of that works, is there any place that you can go to nap between jobs? Like a friend's house who is at work at the time?

Answer 6

No. they don't have the right to complain. If they don't like it, then they can work 2nd or 3rd shift. I used to work at a factory that offers a differential. Everyone understood why 3rd shift got paid more than 1st. People have to give up there lives in some ways because they have to work 3rd shift. They deserve compensation.

Answer 7

As they say in AA (I think?), "compare, despair." They are comparing your life to their own. And that makes them whine.

After all, they have been offered the same solution to their supposed woes -- to work the second shift -- but they reject that. Therefore they have NO PROBLEM that needs a solution. The rest is just them whining.

Try watching their mouths move and not actually hearing their words. Or, if you can, wear an iPod. These people are talking but they're not actually saying anything worth listening to. They will never improve their lives so move on with your life and away from them!

Answer 8

Nope - you're paid the difference not only for the work but because it's off hours - some people like to complain

Answer 9

People always ***** and complain, no matter how good they have it. I wouldn't care and you shouldn't care what anyone else says. You get the extra money because that is how much money it takes to get people to do it. I would give a homer response "yeah, but what can you do about it."

Answer 10

hell no i too work in a hospital but it doesnt matter where bout iam stationed or what shift i have the money is all the same it sucks all some ppl have to do is hand out menus to patients and fill up water jugs and they get paid the same its wrong